Our Catliolic Heritage in Texas
92
a passport from the new republic, sign a pledge not to reveal details con- cerning the army, and continue his journey alone. The conditions were duly drawn up, and Robinson affixed his signature to the document. This might be said to be the first official agreement entered into by the first Republic of Texas. 15 On October 25 Robinson reached the Guadalupe, where Governor Salcedo had established an observation post. Lieutenant Felix Ceballos took all the papers from Robinson and sent him escorted by three men to Governor Salcedo. The commander assured the Governor that he had checked Robinson's story that he had come alone, for his scouting party had found that only two horses had been over the trail, Robinson's mount and his pack horse. Two days later, Salcedo sent the strange commissioner on his way, escorted by an officer and six soldiers. He wrote the Governor of Coahuila in Monclova that he was sending him under an escort and advised that he be watched closely, because the emissary was "very wily." From him he had learned that the invaders were planning to advance from the Trinity to the Brazos, that they had nearly a thousand men, and that they had deprived the envoy of all traveling companions. Robinson evidently did not keep his word not to divulge the strength and move- ments of the rebels. 16 Upon his arrival in Monclova, Robinson was detained by Governor Cordero until word came from Don Nemesio to send the commissioner by the northern route. Accordingly, Cordero dispatched him under escort to Chihuahua, where he arrived on December 11. His mission proved a failure because the Commandant General was suspicious. After the visit, he was more convinced than ever of the ulterior designs of the United States. He learned that Revolutionary agents had mysteriously contacted the American commissioner while in Chihuahua, indicating the wide- spread ramifications of the Insurgent leaders. A delegate from the revolutionary Junta of Guanajuato asked Robinson for aid from the United States and another from New Mexico informed him that the people of that province were not opposed to being annexed to Louisiana. 1 ~ IS John H. Robinson to Monroe, Washington, July 26, 1813, Al e:rico, Filibustering £%,Pediiions, State De,Parlntent Records, N. A. W. 16 Felix Ceballos to Governor Manuel de Salcedo, Guadalupe, October 2 S, 181 2; Salcedo to the Governor of Coahuila, Bexar, October 27, 1812 ; Simon Herrera to Francisco Xavier Venegas, Bexar, October 28, 1812, Nacogdoc/1es Arckives, vol. XVll, pp. 62-65. 17 Cox, "Monroe and the Early Mexican Revolutionary Agents," American His- torical Association, An,111at Report, 1911, I, 197-215; Robinson to Monroe, Wash- ington, July 26, I 813, Me%ico, Filibustering £:,;peditions, State. Department Rec- ords, N. A. W.
Powered by FlippingBook